Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-15
Col. Ludlow Talks ON the Subject
Plans for New Avenues.

Col ludlow. speaking to 4 STAR reporter OF the
action OF the House subcommittee on District ap-
preparations respecting the Massachusetts ave-
hue extension. said the District Commissioners
had asked nothing for that avenue, nor did they
want any more at present. The only thing that
Congress was likely TO be called upon to do re-
specting the extension was to provide for running
the avenue through the New Naval Observatory
grounds. The Commissioners have contracted
under the current appropriation, for ex-
tending the avenue TO Rock creek. On
the other side OF the creek the property
owners were going on with their work
st their own expense. Until access was given to
that region by the construction OF a suitable
bridge at Rock creek no money would be expended
by the District in opening the avenue beyond the
creek. The Commissioners had, he said, in this
matter secured valuable right OF way, which q
few years from low could not have been obtained
except at great cost. The Commissioners, acting
when they did. obtained this easement without the
expenditure OF u dollar. Not only had the line OF
the avenue been secured, but the future regular
growth OF the city in that direction had been as
sured. as all Subdivisions OF ground made by the
owners there Will now have to be made in con-
fofmity TO the line OF the avenue. The Commits
sioners had In like manner practically secured
without expense valuable rights OF way for the
Island avenue. He thought that good government
and good sense required the Commissioners to do
these things while they could be done without In
volying expense.
The Commissioners, he said would soon have
ready TO send TO the Senate in response to reso-
luton adopted at the last session map of the
District, suggesting the lines which the streets
and avenues should be extended, together with
approximate estimates OF the cost OF such extern
siOns. The value of the land to be taken would, of
course, depend upon the Juries OF condemnation,
but In most cases, the colonel thought, as in the
case OF Massachusetts avenue juries would con-
slider that the benefits to be derived by property
owners would offset the damages. When this
a
Congress would direct that the Commissioners
should approve no subdivision OF land In the sub
The Commissioners could refuse building permits
for buildings that would ObStruct any OF the pro-
posed street extensions. and in other ways keep
the lines OPEN so that as from time to time, 1t be-
came feasible to extend the streets and avenues,
it could be done without any great expenditure in
the way Of damages TO property.
AVENUES TO BE OFGNED.
The Commissioners contemplate, he said, the eX-
tension Of New Jersey avenue and the laying out
Of avenue along the heights from Massachu-
sets avenue, crossing the Columbia road TO the
Soldiers home. This avenue, with the North Cap
itol street extension. would give two approaches
to the Soldiers home grounds. the only park that
Washington has. IL was found, he said, impracti-
cable to extend Vermont avenue out to the Sol
diers home.
TO OPEN THE GATEWAY
eve propose, too" SAID the colonel, "to do what
we can TO provide for the growth OF the eastern
section OF the city. Now, practically, there is
only one gate to that extensive part OF the city,
and that is by the streets Just north of the Capt.
toll, between that and the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. You see, the railroad comes to this point"
showing on map Of the city the location of the
B. d D. depot, .'and here is the Capitol and the
Capitol grounds. Between them is the gate TO the
east and northeast. Now, we propose to widen
this gateway, to remove the barrier. OF course
we do not propose to move the Capitol. No one
would desire to do that even IL were practicable
What We have proposed TO do, is to move the rail-
road north OF Massachusetts, avenue. That VIII
open this grand avenue for its whole length and
make it a natural and convenient access
TO all this eastern section, out TO Lincoln park
and beyond. II that were done, the
tide OF prosperity would flow in that direction,
and think the property would be greatly in
creased In value. Such is the plan the Commits
siOnerS have recommended TO Congress in their
annual report. AS for the railroad company do
not think they would suffer by such an arrange
ment. Their terminus would be as near the Capt.
tOl as is the b. and =. depot now and as near the
center of the cfty-which can be said to be about
where the Patent Office StandS-aS is the Il. and F.
depot. The railroad depot would, too, be located
hear the great avenue which would be the thor
Oughfare between the eastern and the central and
western portions of the city. II the railroad CON-
pany would do that and abandon the present line
by which the Metropolitan branch enters the city,
there would be rapid development OF that part
OF the CITY"